College football tour: Auburn DB Aairon Savage is just happy to be playing

Oft-injured safety aims to have fun, display leadership in his sixth year

Auburn's Aairon Savage (upending Kansas State's Jordy Nelson on Sept. 1, 2007) missed the last two seasons because of injuries.

Dave Martin/Associated Press files

At 23, Aairon Savage hoped to be roaming the secondary in an NFL training camp by now.

Instead, the Auburn senior free safety finds himself as the elder statesman for the Tigers after missing the last two seasons because of injuries, leaving him with just a faint memory of what it feels like to play in a game.

"It was a long time ago," Savage said of his last game in 2007.

As a redshirt freshman, Savage started 11 games and was named to the Southeastern Conference's All-Freshman team.

A preseason All-SEC pick in 2007, Savage was limited to seven games because of shoulder and ankle injuries. That was just the beginning, though.

During preseason practice in 2008, Savage tore ligaments in his knee, forcing him to miss the entire season. After fighting his way back from that injury, he suffered a torn Achilles' tendon before last season, forcing him to miss another year.

In February, Savage was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after being sidelined for 31 games.

"He has been the epitome of a guy that's been persistent and fought through so many things in his career that could potentially bring you down," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "Just a guy that, bless his heart, has done everything we've asked him to do.

"I'm just glad we have him back on our football team and the leadership that he brings is second to none."

Naturally, the last two years haven't been easy for the Albany, Ga., native. It has taken a lot of prayers, a lot of consoling from family and friends and a lot of time with the school's chaplain to get Savage through the rough times.

He used his time away from football wisely, though. In 2008, Savage picked up his bachelor's degree in exercise science. This summer, he received his master's degree in biomechanics.

Savage was allowed to participate in spring practice this year, although he was held out of scrimmages. Now, he's looking forward to the Tigers' opening game Sept. 4 against Arkansas State. But he doesn't want to make a big deal about his comeback.

"How selfish would that be?" Savage said. "We've come a long way. The hype is really gone. I've been hurt. I'm back. I'm fine. When we step on the field, it's going to be about Arkansas State."

It will be a special moment for Chizik as well. Chizik recruited Savage when he was Auburn's defensive coordinator in 2004, then left in 2005 to become the assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator at Texas.

"Who knew it would come full circle like that?" Savage said. "That just goes to show you everything happens for a reason. It's a blessing. We're going to roll with it."

When Chizik learned that Savage would be back this season, he quickly pulled him into his office.

"He said, 'You don't have to tell me why you decided to come back,'" Savage said. " 'I don't want to know the reasons. Don't think about the injuries. Don't think about going to the pros. Just enjoy this year.'

"And that's what we've been doing."

-- Marlon W. Morgan: 529-2792

CLOSER LOOK AT: Auburn

Rewind: An 8-5 record and 3-5 showing in the Western Division in Gene Chizik's first year as Auburn coach might have been a better than expected showing. Yet, there was a tinge of disappointment at the end of the year because Auburn started the season 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the SEC, averaging 41.4 points per game. Then, its offense was never quite as effective the rest of the year, though a 38-35 overtime win over Northwestern in the Outback Bowl ended the year on a positive note.

Fast-forward: The offense returns nine starters, but one of the new faces is transfer quarterback Cameron Newton, who should make the difference. Newton left the University of Florida two years ago and played at Blinn (Texas) Junior College last year, where he threw for 2,833 yards and 22 TDs. Eight defensive starters return and Chizik has moved sophomore Daren Bates, a former Olive Branch High star, to linebacker from strong safety. Auburn has a favorable schedule. Four of its toughest SEC games -- Arkansas, LSU, Georgia and Alabama -- are at home in Jordan-Hare Stadium.